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Sauce: Dr Pepper Barbecue Sauce

Source of Recipe

From "BBQ USA" by Steven Raichlen


Recipe Introduction

"Barbecue sauces flavored with soda are a great American tradition. This one features the grandaddy of American soft drinks—Dr Pepper—which was invented in 1885, a year before Coke. The setting was Waco, Texas, then, also known as Six Shooter Junction. The place was Wade Morrison's Old Corner Drug Store, where a pharmacist named Charles Alderton combined spices, sweeteners, and carbonated water to come up with this uniquely American beverage. As for the name, it was Wade Morrison's attempt to woo a Virginia girl he was courting (her father was Dr. Charles Pepper). His sweet, tart, aromatic soda possesses just the flavor profile you want in a barbecue sauce."

List of Ingredients

â—¦ 1 large juicy lemon
â—¦ 1 clove garlic, peeled and lightly crushed with the side of a cleaver
â—¦ 1 thin (¼-inch) slice onion
â—¦ 1 cup Dr Pepper
â—¦ ¾ cup ketchup
â—¦ 3 tablespoons Worcestershire sauce
â—¦ 2 tablespoons A.1. steak sauce
â—¦ 1 tablespoon of your favorite hot sauce, or more to taste
â—¦ 1 tablespoon cider vinegar, or more to taste
â—¦ 1 teaspoon liquid smoke
â—¦ ½ teaspoon freshly ground black pepper
â—¦ Coarse salt (kosher or sea)


Recipe

Cut the lemon in half crosswise and cut a ¼-inch slice off of one half. Remove any seeds in this slice. Juice the remaining lemon: You should have 2 to 3 tablespoons juice.

Place the lemon slice, 2 tablespoons of the lemon juice, and the garlic, onion slice, Dr Pepper, ketchup, Worcestershire sauce, steak sauce, hot sauce, vinegar, liquid smoke, and pepper in a heavy nonreactive saucepan and gradually bring to a boil over medium heat.

Reduce the heat slightly to maintain a gentle simmer. Let the sauce simmer gently until thick and richly flavored, 10 to 15 minutes. Taste for seasoning, adding more lemon juice, hot sauce, and/or vinegar as necessary and seasoning with salt to taste, if desired. Strain the sauce into a bowl (or clean glass jars) and let cool to room temperature, then refrigerate, covered, until serving. The sauce will keep for several months in the refrigerator. Bring to room temperature before serving.

Makes about 2 cups